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Valleywide blood drive happening throughout July

Coachella Valley cities have a chance this summer to show which of them can encourage most people to donate blood for local hospitals. LifeStream blood bank of La Quinta is once again hosting a Nine Cities Blood Dirve Challenge with nine drives — one for each city — from July 9 through August 1.

Coachella Valley cities have a chance this summer to show which of them can encourage the most people to donate blood for local hospitals.

LifeStream blood bank of La Quinta is once again hosting a Nine Cities Blood Drive Challenge with drives — one for each city — happening from July 9 through August 1.

LifeSteam is the exclusive blood provider for all three valley hospitals, plus hospitals in Blythe and the High Desert. Its donations typically drop in the summer months.

Walk-in donors are welcome at each drive, but LifeStream encourages people to make an appointment by calling (800) 879-4484 or going to www.LStream.org.

Donors will receive a free, single-day pass to Wet ‘n’ Wild in Palm Springs, valid through Oct. 11, and will be entered into drawings for passes to Legoland, Sea World and Disneyland/Disney California Adventure.

Because of federal Food and Drug Administration rules, LifeStream cannot accept donations from men who have sex with men. FDA officials have discussed relaxing the policy, which some people see as a discriminatory holdover from the AIDS crisis.

Donors must weigh at least 110 pounds and be at least 15 years old. Donors who are 15 or 16 must have a signed parental consent form, available at the drive or online. Donors should feel well and have had no recent illnesses, and they must pass a health screening.